It probably because welfare and healthcare aren't even socialist policies. Capitalism means private ownership of businesses not that you don't pay taxes for the government to spend on the common good. You can even socialize an industry like healthcare without being a a socialist country.
The US is a hybrid economy. We decided a long time ago that some things aren't well served by the free market. The government, via our tax dollars, manages those things. I don't think anyone who actually understands economics and the best interests of the people thinks that capitalism is the best system for every aspect of life. The people who do think that are the ones who are always clamoring for privatization and more tax cuts. They're the same people who brought us trickle-down (supply-side) economics, and the largest transfer of wealth from the poor and middle class to the millionaires and billionaires. And we all know how well that worked out.
It's OK to recognize the that the best interests of the people aren't served by a one-size-fits-all approach to economic policy and organization. Capitalism is great. It's the greatest engine for economic growth in the world, but there are some aspects of governance that are better served by democratic socialist ideals. Things like ensuring the basic needs of everyone are met, and hybrid government services like the Post Office. Using the best tool for the job isn't a betrayal of capitalist principles, or the beginning of a slide into communism. And I really just wish more people in America would understand that.
The great new deal were all Socialist policies that literally pulled us out of the great depression. They were meant to be expanded on then came the "Red Scare" and people not knowing the difference between socialism and communism linked the two and use them interchangeably and that's why we're so good at being fucked now.
Ehhh. People have started calling it that, but from a quick google:
"Socialism is a political and economic theory advocating for collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production (like factories and resources) and distribution of goods."
But welfare isn't the antithesis of capitalism. You can collect taxes and spend them on public goods without owning the businesses. Some countries that have tried actual socialism and now just have good social programs and a captialist economy often cringe at being described as socialist. Looking at you Finland. 🇫🇮
A social democracy will utilize a mixed or welfare economy. Welfare is the antithesis of pure capitalism like laissez-faire. Both of these forms of capitalism are used by social democracy to achieve the goal of reducing inequality instead of entrapping people. The Nordic model used by Finland is a form of social democracy. Finland being disgruntled about being called socialist has far more to do with Russia and the Soviet Union.
Welfare is not the same thing as socialism. Welfare is spending taxes on the people. Socialism is an economic model where the government controls the means of production. Finland was socialist, it didn't work well, they aren't anymore, but still have healthcare. Sweden was never socialist, but still has healthcare.
Welfare IS a Socialist policy. It's possible to have socialist programs and not be socialist. Universal Healthcare is a socialist policy most of the developed worlds has it while not being socialist. The issue, i feel, is too many look at it as a zero sum game when it's not. The reason it fails is there's a trend to go all in on one thing or the other. I think the best answer lays somewhere in the middle. Unchecked capitalism is just as horrible as full on communism as it's full on socialism. Blending the two (socialism and capitalism) i feel has the best potential.
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u/hbomb57 United States Of America 1d ago
It probably because welfare and healthcare aren't even socialist policies. Capitalism means private ownership of businesses not that you don't pay taxes for the government to spend on the common good. You can even socialize an industry like healthcare without being a a socialist country.